Vehicle-wheel.



J. W. THOMPSON. VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLIGATIQN IILBn mm: 11'. 190B.

926,783. Patented my 1 909.

anomalo:

IWT/www JAMES W. THOMPSON, Ul" WHAM, LOUISIANA.

VEHICLE-WHEEL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July a, woe.

Application Bled June 17, 190B. Serial No. 438,999.

To all' whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. Trromrsou, citizen of the United States,residir-1 at Wham, in the perish of Ouachita andi Ltate of Louisiana,have invented certain new and useful: Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels, ofwhich the following isa specification.

The present invention belongs tothe type of wheel!! ira-ving the rimportion movable. with reference to the hub portion andhavingijcushioning means between the two.

. he inventionV provides novel locking means between the parts to insurerotation thereof without interfering inthe least with the free yieldingmovements of thel rim )ortionv and et the same time bracing the w icollateral-Py to sustain laterali stress, as when making a curve, droppinginto ay rut or passing over an' obstruction.

For a full understanding of the invention and the Ine-rits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge' of the dete-ils of construction and themeans for eitectin the result, reference is to be had to thefol owingdescription and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bchanges in the structure and minor detnis without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawin s 7 in which:

.lgure 1 is a side view of a vehicle wbccl ombodyin the invention, aportion of the rim being roken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on theline :rof Fig. l. Fig. 3 is e side view of the center frame, the ring onthe near side and the cooperating disk being removed. Fig. 4 is a detailview of a modiiicetionshowing double springs interposed be tween the hubend cooperating member. Fig` 5 is a detail view of a furthermodificotion, showing a pneumatic device interposed between the parts ofthe center fra1nc. Fi

f 6 is a detail view in perspective of the si e rin having theprojections. Fig. 7 is n detal pers ective view of the disk or plate,

having t e recesses to receive the projections of the side ring.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followln descriptionand indicated in all the views o the drawings by the same referencecharacters.

The Wheel comprises arim, a center frame constituting the hiib portionand cushioning 'duced portions of the hub.

means between the elements of the center lirame.

The rim 1 may be of any construction: and is connected to the outermember of the center frame by means of spokes 2.

.The center frame consists of a hubA 3 outer ring 4 and side rings 5,the latter being secured in any manner to the. outer ring 4 amd spacedapart a distance toi receive the cushioning means, which letter areinterposed between the. hub 3 and the outer ring 4..

'the cushioning means may consist of springs or a pneumatic device 7,which may be n tubc or other inataible structure. rl lic springsl may besingle or double. In

' the latter construction one spring ls marde smaller than the other andinserted therein. ln the event of tlic cu.-biouin, r ineens bci-nti,p a)nciunatic device, the latter `lills the s we betwceii the hub 3 andrings 4 and 5. inhen tbecushioning menne consist of springs', the latterhave u. radial arrangement and their end portions are fitted to studs Hextended from the hub and ring 4. Clips i) serve to secure the springsti to the hub and ring 4 and are bolted or otherwise. secured to therespective parts, tbe cud portions` engaging with tbc Terminal coilsoi'l the springs being of lioolt ioriu to engage with the latter. 'l`llcinner spring ol' tbc double springs bas its cud portions engaged withthe ends oi the studs S. 'l`bc outer side of the hub Ii and tbe innerside ol' thc ring 4 may be of any form and are preferablyY ot' polvoonnloutline to .form a plurality of straight faces to receive the abuttingends ofthe s rings 6. When e, pneumatic device is empoyed, the opposingsides of the hub 3 and rimlr 4 are circu ar, so as to provide a uniformx.beering upon the inner and outer sides of the pneumatic device.

',llui openin fs of thc side rings 5 are closed bv means of r isks orplates, the same iitting` close agniust the side rings to prevent dustand foreign matter i'rom entering the space of the center framereceiving thecushioning ineens. The end portions of the hub 3 arereduced and pass throiwh openings of the disksor plates, the latterbeing secured to the shoulders formed at thc inner ends of the re- 'lhedisks or plates move. with the hub and their outer portions owrlapiingthe side rings 5 brace the Wheel latcrnil)v :ind sustain the lateralstrain incident to the rounding,r of a curve,

vibration.

vsuoli construction as to admit ol a limited movement ol' the disk l1iii every direction so as to obtain all the advantages of the cushioningmeans in absorbing shoik and Projections l2 are formed or provided uponthe outer side ol' theoring 5 adjacent to the disk or plete 1l and areol' wedge form. lecesses 13 are formed upon the inner side oli' the diskor plate 1l and correspond in projections 12. The projections l2 andrecesses 1? are ol' .such relative dimensions as to admit of the rim andhub portions olx the j wheel having n like limited play in everydirection. When the hub ani rim portions of the wheel are relativelyturned, the shoulders of the parts l2 and 13 ahnt alter said )arts reachthe limit ol' movement and cause both to turn together, therebypreventingy overstraining olI the cushioning means and insuringlpositive rotation imparted to on(l part of t ie wheel beingrtransmitted to the other, this beingr ol" the utmost importance when thewheel is used as n. driver for an automobile or other mechanicallypropelled machine. The edges or walls ol' the interlocking elements 12and 13 are undercut, thereby preventing, relative outer strain upon theparts 1l and 5 when motion is transmitted l'roiii one to the other.

'lhere may be as many interlocking; parts 12 and 13 as may be l'oundnecessary, but iii practice two such parts are sullicient, the samehaving a diainetric arrangement.

outline to the shape of thev A cap 14 may be secured to the center frameso as to extend over the disk or plate and thereby prevent dust oi'other foreign matter l'roin finding its way into the joint formedbetween the disk and the adjacent ring 5. This cap 14 may be secured tothe ringr 4 by the same fastening means employed for holding the siderings 5 in place.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. Iii a wheel o1' the character described, comprising a centerfrarneembodying a hub portion, a ring portion and interposed cushinning means,plates secured to said hub portion and overlapping the sides of saidring portion and serving to bracethe wheel laterally and to close thespace between the hub and ring portions, and interlocking rojections andrecesses formed between a p ate and the ring portion, said parts beingof wedge forni and of such relative proportions to admit of the rim andhub portions of the wheel having a limited play.

2. In a wheel ol' the character described, comprising a center frameembodying a hub portion, a ring portion and interposed cushioniinhrmeans, plates secured to said hub portion and overlaj'iping J(he sidesof said ring portion and serving to brace the wheel lati-.rally and toclose the space between the hub end ring portions, and cooperatingirojeotious and recesses forming interloc ing means between a plate andthe said ring portion, the meeting portions of said parts being undercutto forni positive interlocking menus to prevent lateral displacement ofthe plete and ring.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature l in presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES W. THOMPSON.

